Abigail Ruhman

As millions of students across the state prepare to head back to school, North Texas health leaders want parents to check that their children are up to date on vaccinations. One health leader said it's especially important right now as the U.S. experiences its highest number of measles cases in 30 years.

Six months after the Texas Education Agency determined a North Texas school district needed to provide a student with residential placement to address his behavior and educational needs, the family is still waiting. Lawyers and advocates warn Kelton Lightfoot's case could weaken an official complaint process meant for students with disabilities and have far-reaching implications for accessible education in Texas.

Unused or expired medications can pose a potential hazard to people and the environment. A KERA listener wants to know how to properly dispose of medications.

Metrocare's board of trustees approved an agreement with Parkland Health for a loan of up to $18 million to keep Dallas County's largest mental health and developmental disability services provider solvent.

Texas advocacy groups warn a recent opinion from the U.S. Department of Justice could lead to an increase in institutionalization for people with disabilities. More than 25 organizations have signed a joint statement urging policymakers to protect the rights of people with disabilities from the potential consequences of the DOJ's opinion.

The Texas Medical Association has concerns about how prediction market platforms, like Kalshi and Polymarket, could lead more young adults to develop gambling addictions. The organization wants state lawmakers to implement regulations on the new trend, including restricting platforms for people under 21 years old.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Texas was one of more than 35 districts participating in an annual, national effort to address healthcare fraud. Thirteen North Texas defendants were charged in connection to more than $365 million in alleged fraudulent billing.

State officials and UT Southwestern Medical Center on Tuesday unveiled Texas' newest state hospital, the first in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. The Texas Behavioral Health Center joins ten other facilities — nine state hospitals and one youth residential treatment center — to provide care for hundreds of Texans with serious mental health issues.

TORCH CIN, a physician-hospital organization representing 45 rural and community hospitals across Texas, announced Friday it will end its contracts with UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company over "unsustainable" reimbursement rates. The leader of TORCH CIN said the current rates pose an "existential threat" to rural hospitals.

With millions expected to travel to North Texas for the FIFA World Cup, researchers at the University of Texas at Arlington said it could offer valuable insight into how big events effect air quality. As the region grows, one researcher said that insight could help local officials make decisions about how they try to improve air quality.

Soccer fans from around the world will be coming to North Texas this month for the FIFA World Cup. Local health leaders have been preparing for the influx of people for about a year and a half. Hospital and public health officials say what they’re doing hasn’t changed much, but how they do it has.

Health care is the largest and fastest growing industry in Texas — but the workforce isn't growing fast enough to meet increasing demand. Workforce shortages are getting worse, according to testimony from state officials during a House Committee on Public Health hearing.